Liturgy Notes for Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

This is one of the ‘suffering servant’ motifs from the Prophet Isaiah. “… For my part, I made no resistance, neither did I turn away. …” Suffering becomes those who are authentic followers of God, real disciples of the Lord. Here the profound listening to the Lord that the disciple does, sits cheek by jowl with beating, taunting and insult. Listening to God’s Word is a dangerous business that brings us into conflict with those who unjustly hold power.

2nd Reading

Phil 2:6-11

The great ‘Christ-Hymn’. Scholars tell us that Paul may have adopted this text from some other source, possibly in aramaic. Like all hymns, it has a catechetical and credal quality that few other mediums have. Our contemporary hymns tell us a lot about what we really believe. As Christians we are to know Christ intimately. This ‘Christ-Hymn’ offers us an intimate insight into who Christ is. His self-emptying is the means of his exaltation. It is also the means of ours.

Gospel

Mark 14:1 – 15:47

There is a profound association between Passover, trickery, anointing with costly nard and betrayal for money. This Passover will be the Passion and the ‘preparations’ spoken about in the passage signify the preparation for the Passion that has been going on right throughout the gospel of Mark. This Passover, this Passion, is a New Covenant. Jesus’ blood is the sign of the New Covenant. Here he prefigures his own death by inviting his followers to do what he does: to take, to thank (eucharistēsas) and to give. There is a task to be carried out to recall what Jesus has done. The New Covenant must be remembered and lived out.

Homily Notes

We look for Christ everywhere. We are taught that Christ is present in four ways during the liturgy: in the gathered assembly; in the proclaimed Word; in the Priest presiding; and in the Eucharist celebrated. Here, Christ is present in Sacrament, Word, action and in people.

For us Catholics, the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist is a core doctrine of our faith that we defend highly. We are less vigorous in our defence of the other ‘presences’ of Christ. Still less so are we defensive of the presence of Christ in the poor, in the voiceless and in the marginalised.

Christ is present in Daniel, in Joel and in Betty, most especially because of the violence, suffering, separation and aloneness that they have experienced. Their suffering, like all human suffering, unites them to Christ on the cross in a profound way.

Perhaps this is a good time to remember that much of the Church’s social teaching has the status of doctrine. This places it on an a similar footing to all the great doctrines of the Church.